Concerto has world premiere at VSU

On Sunday, March 5, at 3 p.m., the Valdosta State University
Department of Music and the VSU Office of International Programs
will host the world premiere of a new concerto for oboe by renowned
Hungarian composer, Frigyes Hidas. The performance will be held in
Whitehead Auditorium. Afterwards, there will be a reception in the
adjoining Pine Room, for Hidas, as well as all performers and
audience members.

Hidas served for many years as conductor for the Hungarian national
Theatre in Budapest and as keyboardist with the Hungarian Radio
Symphony. He has written extensively for theatre, television,
movies and radio and is today considered perhaps the foremost
living classical Hungarian composer. In 1959, he received the
international Erkel Prize for his first oboe concerto. His second
oboe concerto has been composed specifically for this occasion and
will feature VSU oboe professor Susan Eischeid as soloist.

The Hungarian Festival Ensemble will be conducted by Laszlo Marosi,
artistic director and lead conductor of the Hungarian Army Band
from 1982-1995. Hidas will be flying in from Hungary for the
premiere.

The program will also feature the faculty Blazerquintet, Valdosta
Symphony Orchestra String Quartet, Dr. Larry Scully and the Chamber
Singers, under the direction of Dr. David Lee Johnson, performing
works slated for their upcoming Hungarian tour in March.

The premiere will be preceded by a week of lectures exploring
different aspects of Hungarian culture and featuring VSU professors
Dr. Sheri Gravett, Dr. Eneida Pugh and local artist and sculptor,
Luana Goodwin. These lectures will occur daily, Feb. 28-March 1, at
noon, in the Conference Room of the Odum Library. Admission is free
to all events and the public is invited to attend.